Irish outlaw Muslim second wives

Muslims who marry Irish women have to make a formal declaration that they will not take more than one wife on being granted citizenship.

The Irish government confirmed yesterday that it has ordered all men from Islamic countries seeking residency to sign a sworn affidavit rejecting polygamy.

Muslim men also have to agree they will not seek residency for a second wife if granted Irish citizenship. A man must swear he has “one spouse only” and “has no intention of entering into a simultaneous marriage”.

A spokesman for the Department of Justice in Dublin said: “Obviously, we don’t recognise polygamy under Irish law.”

The Irish Council of Civil Liberties said the enforcement was “despicable”. A Lebanese army officer was refused residence for both his wives and 13 children.